Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some parts of the world, people buy far too many clothes.

What are the reasons for this?
How can people be persuaded to reduce the number of clothes they buy?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 7.5)

In many parts of the world, people purchase far more clothes than they actually need. This trend is mainly caused by the rise of fast fashion and the influence of advertising and social media. However, there are several ways to encourage people to reduce their clothing consumption.

One major reason people buy excessive amounts of clothing is that fashion trends change very quickly. Many companies produce inexpensive clothes and constantly introduce new collections, encouraging consumers to replace perfectly usable items. In addition, social media influencers often promote new outfits, making people feel that they need to buy new clothes to look fashionable. Discounts, sales and online shopping also make purchasing clothes easier and more tempting than ever before.

There are several ways to address this problem. Firstly, governments could introduce educational campaigns to raise awareness of the environmental damage caused by excessive clothing production and waste. Schools could also teach young people about sustainable consumption and encourage them to repair or reuse clothes. Secondly, clothing companies could be encouraged to produce higher-quality garments that last longer. Higher taxes on low-quality fast fashion could also discourage unnecessary purchases.

Individuals can make a difference by buying fewer but better-quality clothes and considering whether they genuinely need an item before purchasing it. For example, instead of buying a new outfit for every occasion, people could reuse and combine existing clothes in different ways.

In conclusion, excessive clothing consumption is largely driven by fast fashion, advertising and changing trends. Greater awareness, responsible business practices and more thoughtful purchasing habits can help reduce this problem.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified the reasons for excessive clothing consumption, such as the influence of fast fashion and social media, and provided practical solutions, including educational campaigns and policy changes. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of influencers and the suggestion of reusing existing clothes. The position is clear throughout the essay, and the structure is logical, ensuring that both parts of the question are answered with sufficient depth. The response is balanced and demonstrates a strong understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with the causes and moving logically to potential solutions. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through your arguments. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the problem and the solution is smooth. The logical flow is consistent, and the use of referencing is clear, making the text easy to follow and coherent throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'excessive clothing consumption', 'sustainable consumption', and 'responsible business practices' are used accurately and appropriately. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated or less common collocations to reach the highest band. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication. The tone is consistently formal and suitable for an IELTS writing task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional-like structures ('instead of buying... people could reuse') and participial phrases. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that hinder understanding. To move to a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical forms, such as inversion or more advanced passive constructions, but the current level of accuracy and range is very solid.

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